National City Council delays tow increase

National City council members want more information before voting on fee increases

NATIONAL CITY  After questions arose about changes in contracts with two towing companies, National City council members decided last week to delay a vote on whether to increase towing fees for residents.

The city entered into an agreement with Moynahan’s Towing and Road One Towing for towing and impound services from Oct. 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2013.

The contract allows the companies to request a tow fee increase following the first 12-month period of the agreement in order to be consistent with the community standard for police towing in San Diego County.

Each did so through letters to former Police Chief Adolfo ﻿Gonzales, indicating this would be the only rate increase request for the remainder of the current contract barring any significant unforeseen increase in operating costs.

“I have reviewed this request with staff and found that under the current contract, both tow contractors have the lowest fees per tow and storage for all allied law enforcement agencies within the County,” Gonzales wrote in a January email to City Manager Leslie Deese.

Other agencies include California Highway Patrol, the Sheriffs’ Department and the Chula Vista Police Department.

Moynahan’s Towing and Road One Towing now charge $160 for a basic tow, $185 for a medium tow and $40 a day for storage.

Moynahan’s and Road One requested increases to $190, $210 and $48, respectively. The hike would make National City’s fees comparable to others.

Both contractors also agreed to implement a new flat rate tow fee of $75 to the city for victim and witness vehicles impounded for investigation purposes.

The vehicles are towed to the police station, then the tow yard, Police Chief Manuel Rodriguez said.

Councilman Louie Natividad opposed the increases and the new $75 flat fee.

“I have a real problem with the $75 cost,” he said. “I would like to see it taken off.”

Councilwoman Mona Rios said she has a problem with the request because there is no justification for the costs.

“I don’t feel comfortable with that,” Rios said. “I kind of feel like the city is benefiting from a lower cost but at the expense to the residents of the city.”

The tow companies said in letters to the city that they operate in a challenging business environment and describe the increase as reasonable.

Councilwoman Alejandra Sotelo-Solis ﻿said she would support a flat fee.

“I think we should have a flat fee that should be for the entire duration of the contract,” she said. “Currently I don’t feel like we have enough reason to do the increase … I think we should keep the fees the same.”

Councilman Jerry Cano said the companies provide a necessary service to National City.

“I think that these fees are appropriate,” Cano said.

“As I’m looking at the numbers for basic tow with other ones, Chula Vista, San Diego, the Sheriff’s Department, we are quite a bit lower than all of those,” National City Mayor Ron Morrison said.

Gonzalez had suggested that if council members were opposed to the fee hikes, they could consider allowing the tow contractors a $20 increase for both basic and medium size tows and a $5 increase in storage fees.

That alternative was not considered.

After discussion, the majority of the council decided that with the number of unanswered questions the item needed to be further reviewed.

City Manager Leslie Deese suggested 30 days was sufficient. The item will be brought back for consideration May 7.